Tortricidae – Olethreutinae – Thaumatotibia leucotreta – False Codling Moth
STATUS – A specimen of this Afrotropical species was light trapped by Tony Davison in his Melbourne garden on 27th August 2024. The first record for VC57 & Derbyshire. The species is occasionally imported accidentally as a larva in oranges and other fruits, especially Capsicum frutescens (Chilli Peppers) and seeds. The species is a pest of fruit crops across its natural range in sub-Saharan Africa. A quite remarkable record.
ID POINTERS – The adult moths are sexually dimorphic, females being larger than males. Males have a diagnostic reduced hindwing with a small circular patch of shiny white scales containing a blackish mark. They also have a tuft of scales on the hind tibia giving rise to a swollen appearance. The moth is small, 7-8 mm in body length with a 15-20 mm wingspan. The forewing is brown/black and has some subtle wing patterning in the form of a complex of dark crescent marks in the apical region of the forewing, and each forewing also has a single spot of white scales. The hindwing is paler, and in the male is slightly reduced in size with a distinctive pale ‘key-hole’-shaped pocket on the hind margin.
FLIGHT PERIOD – Unsure
IMAGES – Melbourne, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
Thaumatotibia leucotreta - False Codling Moth - 27th August 2024 Melbourne - Tony Davison©
